Explosion-proof container for inflammable liquids



July 29, 1958 M. RAYMOND 2,845,204

EXPLOSION-PROOF CONTAINER FOR INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS Filed March 18, 1957Ma/co/m L. Raymond IN VEN TOR.

Y MM vm United EXPLOSION-P1200 CONTAINER FOR INFLAMIVKABLE LIQUIDS Thepresent invention relates to portable containers and storage cans aswell as stove reservoirs for inflammable liquids, fuels for example; andhas reference in particular to a structural adaptation which,functioning as safety means, minimizes accidental deaths and injuries.

It is a matter of common knowledge that repeated yearly accidents andfires are traceable to the fact that vaporous fumes attending volatileliquids mix with air and produce an explosive mixture analogous to thatwhich is exploded in a useful manner in the cylinders of internalcombustion engines and the like. An object of the instant endeavor is toprovide a container, or alternatively a stove reservoir, in whichstructural improvements render the same substantially explosion-proof.

In the common storage can when liquid is poured out over a fire, airrushes in at intervals against the outgoing stream of liquid becausenature abhors a vacuum. In the case of the stove reservoir, the smallopenings at the outlet for ingress of air may become clogged by dirt andlint. Air plus flame or spark must enter via the burners to pass up thefeed tube. In both instances, the air-vapor combination in theunoccupied space explodes with dire results. The present inventionoperates as safety-means by providing a separate entrance for air,eliminating the chance of air plus fire entering otherwise.

In carrying out the structural embodiments ofthe invention underconsideration, a construction is provided which lends itself toincorporation in a conventional type fuel can or stove reservoir andthis is accomplished with a minimum of expense. In the latter instancemerely by changing the reservoir, without detracting from the appearancewhile at the same time ofi'ering a practical source of life-saving andprotection to property by making the can, or reservoir as the case maybe, renders the same substantially explosion proof. Briefly, one phaseof the inventive concept has to do with a substantially U-shaped tubehaving its bight portion disposed exteriorly of the dome or upperportion of the can or container, one branch thereof depending into thechamber portion of the can and being slotted. The other branch isexteriorly arranged in respect to the can and is fixed thereto andcombines with the bight portion in providing a carrying handle. Theterminal portion of the exterior branch is laterally directed andprovided with a hollow cross member providing a construction which issomewhat like an inverted T, whereby to provide a highly practical handgrip. In addition the U-shaped pipe provides a vent and allowsatmospheric air to enter the chamber portion of the can.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on the provision of a buoyant ball orfloat which has the additional function of a safety ball check valve.This cooperates with the discharge end portion of the pouring spout andeffects a safety closure, all in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying sheet ofillustrative, but not restrictive,

drawings.

Patent In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an oil can or an equivalent inflammablefuel container constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a view on a slightly enlarged scale which may be said to be acentral vertical section and in which all of the essential parts aredisclosed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view based on the showing as is madein Fig. 2 and illustrating the manner in which the ball check valvefunctions under ordinary pouring circumstances.

Fig. 4 is a View which goes a step further than Fig. 3 and shows how thesubstantially empty can permits the ball to pass through the bore of thespout and lodge itself in the outer end of the spout to serve as aclosure.

Fig. 5 is an exaggerated detail section on the plane of the irregularline 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on a slightly enlarged scale taken on thehorizontal line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings the container, whether it be a stovereservoir or the like, is here conveniently referred to as a portablecan and is denoted generally by the numeral 8 and it has a bottom 10, acylindrical body portion 12 and a dome-like top 14. As seen in Fig. lthe screw cap 16 for the filler neck 18 is of ordinary construction.Also, the top portion is provided with a truncated conical pouring spout20 which radiates from the can in a customary manner. The outerdischarge end 22 is of a prescribed internal diameter to cooperate withthe ball check valve 24. Or stated the other way around, the ball is ofan outside diameter so that it may serve as a spout closure in themanner seen in Fig. 4. Then too, it will be seen that there is asector-shaped plate 26 fixed in the intake end portion of the spout andthe lower straight edge 28 of this defines an opening 30 which in effectis a restricted entrance to the spout. The outside diameter of the ballis such that it will clear throughthis opening 30 as shown in phantomlines in Figs. 4 and 5 in a manner to be further described. i

A substantially U-shaped tubular member is denoted by the numeral 32 andthis has a number of functions. The curvate bight portion 34 is exteriorof the can and cooperates with the two parallel branches or limbs 36 and38 in a defining a carrying handle. This makes it possible to dispensewith the usual wire bail (not shown). The limb 36 has its upper portion40 extending through an opening in the dome welded in place and itslower end positioned just above the bottom 10 where it terminates in amanner denoted at 42 in Fig. 2. The entire enclosed portion of the limb36 is provided with a lengthwise slot 44 which extends from the upperportion or point 46 down to the terminal end 42. This makes it possibleto deliver atmospheric air into the entire chamber portion of the canand especially into the upper portion or space 48 when the can is filledor substantially filled with the inflammable fuel or liquid 50. There isa spacing block welded or otherwise secured to the body of the can andthe block is denoted at 52 and is interposed between the can and thelower portion of the branch 38 which incidentally terminates in thelaterally directed portion 54 at about the median vertical portion ofthe can proper. This laterally directed portion has a cross-head 56which has its ends open as at 58 and this together with the lateralportion provides a convenient hand-grip for uplifting and tilting thecan in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

It will be evident from the disclosure that the U-shaped tube 32 in theparticular form revealed and the manner in which it attaches to andcooperates with the can 8 enhances the utility of the can compared tosimilarly constructed and performing adaptations. Then, too, the

valved spout, as an added safety feature contributes further andconsequently a can having these structural improvements is indeed anadvance in the storage can and container art. It will be noted that thediameter'of the bore of the U-shaped member 32 is greater than thediameter of the discharge opening 22 of the spout. As before stated thebranch 36 is slotted the whole length of the part inside to permit theegress of incoming air regardless of the tilt of the can. The T-shapedportion serves as a hand-grip to facilitate handling and pouring. Thebight portion serves as a carrying handle. The fact that both ends 58 ofthe cross-head 56 are open minimizes the likelihood that the user willever block inflow of air through both ends 58 at the same time.

The valved spout guards against possible inrush of air and fire throughthe spout as the last of the contained liquid leaves the can. The ballhas a diameter slightly more than the outer end of the spout. Oncompletely inverting the can and assuming the contents are completelypoured out, the ball will follow along by suction of the escaping liquidand push out the incoming air from behind to pass down the passage ofthe spout and block the outer end against inrush of air and fire andwill also serve to fall back to the bottom of the can when the can isset upright.

In the case of a reservoir for a stove only theair pipe, which need notnecessarily be slotted is required to permit free ingress of air as thefuel is used and the level drops. When filling the reservoir (notdetailed) the reservoir is inverted back to its natural position, afinger or other closure over the open outer end prevents fluid fromrising in the tube as it rises in the reservoir only to follow aroundthe arc and spill out the outer portion when the reservoir is replaced.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur .to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An explosion-proof container for inflammable liquids comprising a canhaving a pouring spout provided with valving means, a substantiallyU-shaped pipe having a bight portion and a pair of limb portions, onelimb portion projecting into the space of the can and having its lowerend terminating above the bottom of the can and also having a slotextending approximately from one end to the other end of said one limbportion, the other limb portion being exteriorly disposed and fastenedto the can and the bight portion being arched and cooperating with thetop of the can and providing a carrying handle.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and wherein said valving meanscomprises a ball check valve located normally in the container andfloating atop the liquid in the container, said ball check valve beingof an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the bore at thedischarge end of said spout so that when the ball enters said bore itmay be lodged in the discharge end of the spout to effect a closure forthe spout, and a segmental plate-like abutment for said ball check valvefixed in the upper portion of the intake end of the spout andcooperating with the spout in defining a restricted passage betweenitself and a portion of the spout to prevent the ball check valve fromentering the bore in the spout under ordinary fuel pouring conditionsyet allowing the ball check valve to pass through the restricted passagewhen the can is substantially empty.

3. An explosion-proof container for inflammable liquids comprising a canhaving a valved pouring spout, a

substantially U-shaped pipe having a bight portion and a pair of limbportions, one limb portion projecting into the space of the can andhaving its lower end terminating above the bottom of the can and alsohaving a slot extending approximately from one end to the other end ofsaid one limb portion, the other limb portion being exteriorly disposedand fastened to the can and the bight portion being arched andcooperating with the top of the can and providing a carrying handle, andthe terminal of the second named limb portion being of T-shape form andhaving its ends open and providing a hand-grip.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSThiellesen July 19, 1862

